The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-27
PROHIBITION IN THE LEGIs-
LATIRE

Sunday.
PROHIBITION IN the LEGIs-
LATURE.
How b lessen the evils OF intsmper-
snce is the practical question for all
good citssns, all friends OF temper
ance, oil leg slstors to deal with.
Whatever will tend in any way TO do
this deserves encouragement and |
should have the countenance OF every |
good cit zen. But force can never do |
the work Of educatlon-moral sua-
gon-nor can great virtue be knocked |
into any mans life by policeman's
club. A good excise law we'll en-
forced is worth more than ali the
pFohibitory leg Station ever devised.
IN every State Legislature the cause
OF temperance has been greatly in.
jursd by the fanatics who intemper-
ately advocate temperance. Every
man who dares to doubt the infalll-
Dility Of their wisdom is called the
friend of whisky and intempersnce.
This tanaticism has developed itse (
in the Tennessee Legislature, but IL
lsems Henry ]. Lynn and Joe Monte
donioo, the two Senators from this
county, and who are known for their
temperance and sobriety, have thrown
themselves as bulwarks, not to
stsy the cause OF temperance, but
70 check the tide OF ianaticism and
that hast and prscipitate legislation
which has BEEN 80 damaging TO the
fause of temperance. Senator Monte
donico in the debate on Tuesday
planted himself squsrely on the plat
form OF the last National Democratic
Convention, which says: ave oppose
sumptuary laws which vex the citizen
and interfere with individual liberty"
What mau shall wear, what be shall
eat and drink, what sort OF vehicle he
phsll ride in, pertain exclusively to
the personal freedom OF the citiz,n.
What q man shall eat or drink is an
'inaliensble right which neither con-
gtltnt'on nor law can take from him
ksjoEities cannot deprive mau Of
the natural right OF self defense, nor
ran msjorities deprive him OF eating
os drinking what he pleases, II 10
the ioops argument to prohibit be
cause some use to excess; the same
logic would prohibit the sale OF food
because 90 many die Of dyspepsia
induced by gluttony. II saloon
keeper keeps a disorderly house
SELLS to minors or habltusl
drunkards, or in any other way
violates ths law, let him be punished;
II man becomes intoxicated, let him
ne punished. But in the hope OF
reaching both il is useless to resort to
species OF legislation which has never
failed 10 increase the evil. Prohibition
10 false in principle; 1t has failed
wherever IL has been tried II encour-
ages secret drinking and IL puts a
premium on hypocrisy and lying.
-Ae we'll attempt to stop Niagara by
statute or abolish lightning by act Of
legls'ation as t, get rid Of intern per.
Sncs by arbitrary laws. Tobacco is
injurious, coffee has wrecked millions
Of nervous systems, morphine is as
aerrible to the human family as an
army with banners, and why permit
abe use OF tob'cco, coffee aud NOR
phlno and prohibit the lesser evil ?
The practical tempera nee men OF Ten
nessee are decidedly in favor OF high
license, because alb ,olute prohibition
10 an absolute impossibility, while
nigh license has proved to be posi-
BILE, feasible and equitable. In deal
ing with this question the Ten
nessee Legislature should be guided
by the lamp Of experience, and the
light from that lamp shows that pro-
Diblton is not a practical remedy for
tine owls Of the liquor traffic. The
rScent message of the Governor Of
Missouri shows that the high license
isw continues TO work most effectively
bud satisfactorily j a its double capacity
81 an sgent Of temperance and
source OF revenue, Since il went into
effect the number Of saloons in the
State, although population is steadily
increasing, has fallen from 360l TO
1880, e decrease OF one. fifth. There
is now in the State one saloon to each
800 persons on the average; while, as
& 81 Louis commentator observes,
Maine hiss one to each 800 OF her pop
uIaticn. Still more marked is the
sfsc. upon the public revenue, as
sho@n by the following statement
from the st. L1uis Republican:
Urder The old low license system, 1901
dram shofs yiel led an annual revenue Of
~ d0i gnder the new system, 2sS dram
shops yield LISA 6S. So that one fifth fewer
FALCONS yield three tmes AS much revenue.
The mini um incense nxsd by county courts
~ $3.50; the max mum, $500; and, If the sA-
loon 10 10 town or city, toe authorities can
odd az much more as tn y please :. In some
towns in the state tho total licenses paid BY
the salcon ia $500.
II is now recommended in Missouri
that tae law be amended 80 that no liQ.
nor can be sold At drug stores or any
where outside otihe licensed saloons,
She object being u concentrate the
tax entirely up IN the business. No
one who considers this result, cut
tiug OF Of 20 per cent. Of the saloons,
inc uding the most bjectiona1 ole por-
ton OF them, the decrease of drinking
aud Of intsmperAnce, and the direct
add tion of mora than 81 600 600 IN